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Yellow coating on the tongue is an unsightly ailment that belongs to non-specific symptoms, i.e. it can be associated with a wide range of various diseases, ranging from trivial to very serious. We present the most common causes of yellow language so that you can determine the source of this condition.
The most common causes of yellow language
A healthy tongue is light pink in color, springy and moist. Any deviations from this norm indicate some disorders in the functioning of the body. Some are harmless and easy to remove, others require more attention.
Often the cause of the appearance of a yellow bloom on the tongue is very prosaic. Yellow coating on the tongue and bad breath are the first signs of poor oral hygiene. It is enough then to take care of the regularity and accuracy of brushing your teeth so that the conditions in the oral cavity return to normal. In such a situation, it is worth considering at least a temporary use of a mouthwash to better clean the tongue and other tissues of excess bacteria. Therefore, a visit to the dentist is often helpful. Make an appointment today at private Acrodent locations.
There is also no particular cause for concern if the yellow tongue occurs in parallel with starting medications, especially antibiotics. This is a fairly common side effect of many preparations, moreover, colds and similar infections of the upper respiratory tract often cause us to breathe through the nose, which naturally dries the tongue and can cause a yellow color.
Yellow tongue is often associated with diet and bad habits. Discoloration can be caused by smoking, consuming excessive amounts of coffee, or even eating yellow-tinged foods, especially spices such as curry or turmeric, and food dyes added, among others. to sweets. It is also worth knowing that a yellow tongue is one of the signs of dehydration in the body. Many people, even on hot days, forget about providing the body with the right amount of water, which ends up in states of weakness, lack of concentration and increasing fatigue.
It is worth bearing in mind that yellow tongue can be the first stage of a disease called hairy tongue. It involves the development of a bacterial infection which causes the tongue to crack and change its color from yellow to darker to black. Fortunately, this disease is not serious and can be treated quite easily with local treatment.
A yellow coating on the tongue and a bitter taste in the mouth can be signs of digestive problems, especially acid reflux. In such a situation, it is worth consulting a gastroenterologist, especially if the symptoms persist for a long time. Other organs, sometimes accompanied by a yellow coating on the tongue, are the intestines and the liver. This could mean that one of these organs is having trouble draining the toxins properly, which build up in various tissues in the body as a result. Such a situation also requires consultation with a doctor, as it may be a sign of serious diseases of internal organs.
Yellow tongue is also a common symptom of Helicobacter pylori infection. Usually, the yellow tongue is accompanied by symptoms from the digestive system, such as abdominal pain, flatulence or indigestion. These symptoms cannot be underestimated, because an untreated Helicobacter pylori infection may result in gastritis, duodenal ulcer, and even cancerous changes in the liver and stomach.
The first step in the diagnosis of the causes of yellow tongue should be a visit to the family doctor who will refer us further for additional tests and to other specialists. You can make an appointment at the National Health Fund today via the halodoctor.pl portal.
- Find out more: When the tongue is sick
Yellow tongue in children
Parents often react with great anxiety when noticing a yellow language in their child. Usually, however, it is not a serious symptom – the causes of the yellow tongue in a child are most often the same as in adults, i.e. dry mouth or improper hygiene, which is difficult to maintain in the youngest, often reluctant to brush their teeth. The fact that we often see yellow tongue in children is also due to the fact that children usually get sick often, and therefore are taking medications that cause the yellow coating to appear.
Yellow tongue after a tooth extraction
Patients after tooth extraction are often worried about the yellow coating on the tongue. If it occurs in the first days after the procedure, there is no need to worry – the yellow coating may be related to the wound cleansing processes or rinses given by the dentist after the procedure. However, if this symptom persists, and is accompanied by other disturbing symptoms such as persistent pain or excessive bleeding, an urgent check-up at the dentist may be required. In such a situation, it is very possible that the tooth extraction wound does not heal properly.